THE ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS OF TET DECORATIONS QUANG MINH TEMPLE – LUNAR NEW YEAR 2026 (YEAR OF THE HORSE)

Dear Fellow Countrymen and Visitors,

In the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the Year of the Horse, Quang Minh Pagoda extends our warmest wishes for a peaceful, prosperous, and auspicious New Year to you and your families.

To prepare for this year’s Tet festivities, although the final assembly took place in just two frantic weeks, our Reception Committee dedicated six months of meticulous planning. Their tireless day-and-night efforts are more than just a decoration project; they are a profound act of merit (Công Đức) to serve our community. Notably, we have introduced a mobile coffee cart this year to help fund these beautiful displays. We look forward to your kind support.

As you step through the pagoda gates, you will be immersed in a space where "Old Tet" meets "New Spring" through these unique highlights:

• The Golden Apricot Blossom Path: Radiant right from the entrance, this path feels like a journey into a "fairy garden" of blossoms—a perfect backdrop for your commemorative spring photos.
• The Soul of Vietnam: Simple traditional conical hats (Nón Lá) are arranged in mystical patterns, alongside a vintage cream-colored cyclos (Xích Lô), evoking nostalgic memories of ancient Southern Vietnamese cities.
• Vibrant Colors of Three Regions: A delicate fusion of Hoi An lanterns, elegant lotuses, and handwritten Spring couplets (Liễng) crafted by skilled calligraphers.
• Memories of the Homeland: A rustic yellow bicycle and a traditional ox cart represent the peaceful countryside, reminding us of school days and the harvest season's end, when farmers set aside their tools to enjoy the Spring.
• The "Success Upon Arrival" Painting: A centerpiece featuring eight majestic horses in an oil painting, symbolizing unity and the determination to achieve a victorious and prosperous Year of the Horse.

After enjoying the scenic spring displays, we cordially invite you to the Main Hall to offer prayers to the Buddha, wishing your family a New Year filled with Inner Peace, Domestic Happiness, and Great Prosperity.

Nam Mo A Di Da Phat.

Dr. Pham Phuc Nhan

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QUANG MINH TEMPLE TET FESTIVAL 2026

QUANG MINH TEMPLE TET FESTIVAL 2026

Dear Residents / Community Members,

We are writing this letter on behalf of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Victoria to inform you about the upcoming Lunar New Year Festival (Year of the Horse 2026) at Quang Minh Temple on Monday, 16 February 2026, from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM. The Quang Minh Temple Tet Festival is a unique annual event held within the Quang Minh Temple grounds and is "supported by the Festival City Program of the Maribyrnong City Council."

Each year, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people from Maribyrnong and surrounding suburbs attend the Quang Minh Temple Spring Festival to pray and watch cultural activities and fascinating performances to celebrate the Eve of the Year of the Horse 2026. The Lunar New Year is one of the most important cultural and spiritual events for the East Asian community worldwide, especially for the Vietnamese people.

As a spiritual center, Quang Minh Temple organizes cultural activities and fine traditional national rituals to serve community members gathering to enjoy the Spring and welcome the Tet holiday. We have arranged additional parking at Pennell Reserve to minimize disruption to residents. If not necessary, please try to avoid Burke Street during the festival's peak hours from 6:00 PM to 12:30 AM.

At 12:00 Midnight on New Year's Eve, the program will feature Dragon and Lion dancing, firecrackers, and high-altitude fireworks to welcome the New Year. Please note that your pets may need care due to the noise of the fireworks. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your family for your understanding and support of these festive activities and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the cultural and spiritual life of our community.

We hope to see you at Quang Minh Temple for this free community event. If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact the Festival Coordinator,

Chi Vuu at 0407 889 805, the Logistics Manager,

Hai Pham at 0403 542 254,

or Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan at 0414 264 194.

Sincerely,

Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan

 (Abbot of Quang Minh Temple)

THE JOURNEY OF THE BUDDHA’S SACRED RELICS IN AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 18 – JANUARY 30, 2026)

After a 12-day journey of alternating enshrinement across four major cities in four Australian states, the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha made their final stop on January 29, 2026, at Quang Minh Temple, Melbourne. Here, over 17,000 people queued in deep reverence to pay homage and offer prayers to the Buddha’s relics.

The Enshrinement Process

With the official consensus of the Buddhist Union of France, the Buddha’s relics were escorted by a delegation of four monks and five security personnel. They were formally handed over to the Vietnamese Buddhist Federation of Australia for a loan period from January 18 to January 30, 2026.

·         January 19, 2026: The opening ceremony was held in Perth, commencing the pilgrimage for Buddhists and the general public.

·         Subsequent Stops: The relics were enshrined at Phuoc Hue Temple (Sydney), followed by Canberra (Jan 24) and Brisbane (Jan 27).

·         Final Destination: Quang Minh Temple (Melbourne) for the full day of Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Preparations

Following an emergency meeting on January 11, 2026, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan and Venerable Thich Minh Tu, together with the Management Board of Quang Minh Temple, rapidly mobilized various committees: Communications, Rituals, Security & Order, Reception, and Catering, SBS & VietTV Australia Media

On Wednesday, January 28, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan and the temple’s devotees warmly welcomed the French delegation. The French security team meticulously inspected all arrangements and decorations to ensure the utmost solemnity for the following day’s ceremony.

The Main Ceremony at Quang Minh Temple

Early on the morning of January 29, the sky was clear and the air cool—a welcome relief from the scorching summer heat of previous days. A diverse crowd of various ethnicities and Buddhist practitioners formed long, orderly queues within the temple grounds.

The opening ceremony was held in a dignified atmosphere, attended by approximately 20 distinguished guests from France, Tibet, Bhutan, Japan, and China, alongside Australian federal and state politicians. At exactly 10:10 AM, MC My Ly opened the ceremony by introducing the significance of the day.

Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan—Abbot of Quang Minh Temple and President of the Vietnamese Buddhist Federation of Australia—delivered the opening remarks, expressing profound gratitude to the Buddhist Union of France:

“This is a rare opportunity for everyone, regardless of religion or culture, to pay homage and feel the enlightened energy of the Buddha. The Relics remind us of peace, compassion, and humanity.”

This was followed by a response from His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche II (the successor to the late Kalu Rinpoche (1905–1989), a prominent Tibetan master). As the vital link who facilitated the journey of the relics from France to Australia, he shared the story of his efforts in connecting the various governments to ensure the success of the five-state pilgrimage.

Ms. Natalie Suleyman, representing the Victorian State Government, also expressed her gratitude to Quang Minh Temple for its 30 years of contributions to the multicultural community and for organizing such a sacred event.

Impressive Figures and Devotion

·         Over 2,000 fresh lotus flowers were offered.

·         Approximately 17,000 people queued from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM.

·         10 temples from different traditions (Vietnamese, Pali, Tibetan, Japanese, Thai, etc.) took turns chanting and praising the merits of the Triple Gem.

·         The Catering Committee prepared pure vegetarian food for the Sangha and guests, along with over 4,000 servings of bread and water for the public.

The Closing Ceremony

As the temple gates began to close at 6:40 PM, the queue still stretched far into the distance. At 8:00 PM, the rhythmic sound of the Prajna drum echoed through the Great Hall, signaling the conclusion of the event. In a poignant moment, Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan thanked all the volunteer committees for their tireless efforts. This was followed by a final address from His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche II, who thanked the Australian Buddhist community and Quang Minh Temple for their exceptional hospitality.

At 8:45 PM, the vehicle escorting the relics departed the temple gates to return to France. Thousands of tearful eyes watched them leave in a spirit of faith, many silently vowing to follow in the footsteps of the Enlightened One.

HISTORICAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Buddha’s relics were discovered in January 1898 in Piprahwa, India. A large portion was later enshrined in Thailand, and in 2009, a portion was brought to France.

These relics are more than just physical treasures; they are the crystallization of a life of pure discipline and precepts. The Buddha was a human being of flesh and blood who attained supreme wisdom through practice. The relics remind us that the Buddha is not far away; the Buddha resides within the awakened heart of every individual.

Venerating the relics should not be limited to mere petitionary prayer; it is an occasion for self-reflection and a commitment to living a virtuous life—avoiding harm to oneself and others. As His final teaching urged: "Be a lamp unto yourself."

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.

Compiled by Dr. Pham Phuc Nhan

Buddha Relics Exhibition – Updated Schedule

Urgent Notice

Buddha Relics Exhibition – Updated Schedule

Please be informed that the Buddha Relics Exhibition at Quang Minh Temple will now take place for one day only:

 Thursday, 29 January 2026
 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The temple gate will close at 6:30 PM to ensure proper preparation for the Relics’ departure.
The gate will reopen only after the Relics have left.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and support.

Authorised by Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan

Gây quỹ 2 chùa Hoa Nghiêm và Ấn Quang

Kính gởi quí vị,

Sau khi cứu trơ từ Việt Nam trở về, Hòa Thương Thích Thiện Tâm  gởi Quí vị bức tâm thư
gây quỹ tuần tới:
Chùa Hoa Nghiêm  12 giờ trưa chủ nhật 07/12/2025.
Chùa Ấn Quang 12 giờ trưa ngày thứ bảy 13/12/2025.
Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật.

Phạm Phúc Nhân